Chapter 2 Genius and Genius
As soon as the class break began, the white-haired teacher slowly left the lecture hall.
Shin yawned and was just about to lie down on his desk when a familiar voice sounded in his ear.
"Tachikawa student!"
He glanced sideways and saw a girl with shoulder-length brown hair approaching his seat. She was small and wore a red and white school uniform, but her pretty face had an overly serious expression, somewhat detracting from her beauty.
"You haven't submitted your graduation exam application yet."
"Isn't it voluntary? I'm probably not the only one who hasn't submitted it, right?" Shin just lay there, responding sullenly.
Hisagi Shuuhei, who was sitting next to Shin, was organizing his textbooks. He merely glanced up when he heard the conversation but said nothing.
Kanisawa frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"
As one of the two Class A representatives, she had always been diligent and responsible in her duties, but this also made her seem a bit unapproachable. She had few friends, and it seemed that only these two people in front of her were the ones she could talk to more often.
Shin tilted his head to look at her, his voice unhurried: "I feel that my subjects aren't solid enough, and I really don't have much confidence in the graduation exam, so I won't overreach myself."
Kanisawa's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this. She couldn't help but glance at Hisagi Shuuhei, who responded with a helpless look.
"You're not planning to graduate this year?"
"I want to improve myself further."
After a brief thought, Kanisawa took out a roster and quickly skimmed it. Many names were already recorded, all of them students who wanted to apply for the graduation exam. However, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Minamida, would conduct another screening, crossing out those who were clearly unqualified, and then send the remaining students for assessment. Only those who met the standards could graduate successfully.
Shūhei also handed over a roster, "Please give this to Mr. Minamida."
He was the other Class A representative, responsible for the same duties as Kanisawa.
Kanisawa took it and examined it carefully, feeling even more puzzled: "Why isn't your name on it either?"
Shūhei said, "The reason is the same as his."
"…"
Kanisawa remained silent, simply putting away both rosters.
Shūhei then stood up and lightly kicked Shin's shin: "Next is Kido class; we need to change classrooms. Don't sleep."
Tachikawa Shin was a genius. Sawataku Minamida, his homeroom teacher, especially believed this, but he was also indignant about his lax nature, feeling that he was completely wasting his talent.
"Were those his exact words?" Sawataku Minamida pondered after hearing Kanisawa's narration.
Kanisawa nodded: "Hisagi student said the same thing."
Sawataku Minamida frowned: "What are these two up to?"
Kanisawa said: "Tachikawa student has been skipping a lot of classes recently. Not only yesterday's Swordsmanship class, but he also didn't come to the Kido theory class the day before yesterday. Perhaps he realized his shortcomings and wants to study for another year."
She thought of Shin's nonchalant appearance as he lay on his desk just now, and suddenly felt that what she said was a bit disingenuous.
Sawataku Minamida was still flipping through the roster in his hand. He naturally understood the academic performance of his students. In his opinion, only a handful of students would be able to graduate successfully this year, and the one with the greatest hope seemed to have no intention of graduating early.
The Spiritual Arts Academy's graduation exam is very difficult for students who are only Fourth-Year students. After the graduation exam, there are also entrance exams for the Squad Thirteen, Kido Corps, and Onmitsukidō. If one fails, they will still be sent back to school for re-education.
Sawataku Minamida sighed softly: "It would be good if they truly have such determination."
He looked at Kanisawa: "What about you? Is your reason the same?"
Kanisawa gently pursed her lips and nodded silently.
#
The Kido practical class classroom was outdoors.
The Fourth-Year students at the Spiritual Arts Academy had already completed all the courses available at the academy. The fifth and sixth years primarily focused on practical application, such as participating in Human World soul burials and internal work within the Soul Society, to lay a foundation for becoming official Shinigami in the future.
The content of this Kido practical class had already been performed many times by the Fourth-Year students; it was merely a matter of proficiency.
The Spiritual Arts Academy ostensibly teaches all Kido up to number seventy, but students primarily practice up to number fifty in their daily routines. In more important assessments, Kido between numbers fifty and seventy are involved, with the specific number chosen based on the student's spiritual pressure level, and perfect release is not required.
High-level Kido also demand significant spiritual pressure, which Spiritual Arts Academy students, who are not even considered official Shinigami, clearly cannot bear. After becoming official Shinigami, they can choose to learn and improve themselves.
Shin's Kido level was also among the top among his peers. Not only because he had a system, but his own talent was also not low. His Lv13 spiritual pressure level already far exceeded that of Spiritual Arts Academy students.
He estimated that Hisagi Shuuhei, also an excellent student, had a spiritual pressure level of around Lv7.
"Yo, hello everyone."
Upon arriving at the outdoor classroom, they found that the one waiting for them was not their usual Kido practical class teacher, but a handsome young man dressed in black soul reaper uniform.
Most of the students had seen this person before: Vice Captain Shiba Kaien of the Squad Thirteen, who had previously come to the Spiritual Arts Academy to substitute for teachers.
The Spiritual Arts Academy frequently invited high-ranking Shinigami from the Squad Thirteen, Kido Corps, and Onmitsukidō to teach, including Captain-level individuals.
Shiba Kaien had a very easygoing personality, and the students all had a good impression of him. However, every time he came, he would extensively promote his Squad Thirteen, "inciting" some excellent students to choose their Squad when they graduated.
"Long time no see, everyone." Shiba Kaien said with a smile, "I'll be substituting today."
His gaze swept over the students present, and when his eyes met Shin's, he even winked at him.
"Why does it feel like he's here for you?"
Hisagi Shuuhei, next to Shin, spoke in a low voice.
Although many students graduate from the Spiritual Arts Academy each year, only a few are truly outstanding. While Fourth-Year students haven't reached graduation time yet, they can apply for the graduation exam early, and Shiba Kaien's purpose was self-evident.
Shin sighed: "It's normal for someone as excellent as me to receive attention."
Shūhei: "…"
Thinking about what happened last night, Hisagi Shuuhei suddenly asked in a low voice, "Did you refuse Ms. Matsumoto because you wanted to join Squad Thirteen?"
Shin replied: "No."
Shiba Kaien first chatted amicably with a few familiar students before saying, "Enough small talk. Let's begin with Hado practice. First group: Tachikawa Shin, Aoga."
He took out the student roster and began calling names.
Shin, whose name was called, stood up with a tall, long-faced male student and walked to the front. About twenty meters from where they stood, several targets were placed. Unlike the wooden targets used by lower grades, these were special targets made of spirit-stone.
Fourth-Year students had basically mastered Kido up to number fifty, and their power was beginning to take shape. Ordinary wooden targets could no longer withstand them.
Shiba Kaien looked at Shin standing there and said with a smile, "Today, let's start with Hado Number Sixty-Three."
As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of complaints immediately arose among the students. Hado Number Sixty-Three was Raikōhō, which was already considered an extremely difficult subject among students.
Shiba Kaien's smile did not diminish: "What are you complaining about? Your future exams will also be limited to within seventy. If you don't master Kido between fifty-one and seventy, you'll lose points."
Once the students in the back row quieted down, Shin slowly raised his arm, glancing at the white spirit-stone target not far away, without the slightest hesitation.
"Hado Number Sixty-Three: Raikōhō!"
Golden lightning instantly surged from his palm, scattering dense electrical arcs in mid-air and precisely striking the white target.
Shiba Kaien raised an eyebrow slightly at the sight, letting out a soft "tsk." From its appearance alone, this Raikōhō was quite perfect. However, because it hit a spirit-stone, its exact power couldn't be seen, but the spiritual pressure fluctuation just now allowed Shiba Kaien to make a rough guess.
"This kid…"
A few suppressed gasps sounded among the students. Shiba Kaien's smile widened, and he then looked at Aoga beside him.
Aoga was also grumbling internally. Why did this guy, Shin, suddenly abandon the incantation? This made him, being in the same group, feel immense pressure.
Feeling countless gazes behind him, Aoga also wanted to finish as coolly as Shin, but knowing he couldn't, he honestly chanted the spell.
"Hado Number Sixty-Three: Raikōhō!"
Accompanying the fluctuations of spiritual pressure, a large area of golden lightning surged outwards, forming an electric net in front of him with crackling sounds.
The moment Aoga unleashed the Hado, he felt the spiritual pressure within his body was so chaotic that it was impossible to suppress. The spreading lightning simply couldn't be focused like Shin had done just now. Just as he secretly thought things were going badly, his vision suddenly blurred, and when he regained his senses, he realized he had unconsciously retreated two meters backward.
Aoga, still shaken, took a few deep breaths and looked at the person beside him: "Th-…Thank you, Vice Captain Shiba!"
Shiba Kaien, however, said with a smile: "It's good that you're alright."
Shin returned to his original seat with Aoga. Aoga still felt somewhat embarrassed, and glancing at Shin, who looked relaxed beside him, his sense of defeat deepened.
Why do I have to be in a group with this guy!
Shiba Kaien glanced at the roster in his hand again and found that Aoga's grades were considered good in this class. After a moment of thought, he said, "Next, let's continue with practice of Number Fifty-Four."
This also made many people breathe a sigh of relief.
"You're too much of a show-off." Hisagi Shuuhei reminded Shin.
"I am handsome."
"…"
Hado practice continued. Except for Hisagi Shuuhei and Kanisawa, who performed perfectly, the other students had problems to varying degrees, with those with slightly poorer grades even unable to perform the techniques.
Shiba Kaien corrected each student's mistakes, and then conducted another round of Hado and Bakudo practice in the fifties.
A few minutes before class ended, students began to move freely. Many gathered to discuss Kido or chat. Shiba Kaien was also surrounded by many people, and he was smilingly telling them anecdotes about his Squad Thirteen.
Shin lay alone on the wooden floor, taking a nap, squinting at the azure sky, enjoying this leisure.
A dark shadow suddenly blocked his front.
"Kanisawa student, is something wrong?"
Kanisawa sat down beside him, looking at the handsome young man. After a moment of thought, she spoke: "Your grades are so good; the graduation exam should be no problem for you."
Shin responded: "Not at all. My Koten class grades are quite poor."
Kanisawa didn't believe his nonsense. Shin's "poor" was only in comparison to Aoga, who had the best grades in Koten class.
The graduation exam assesses students' overall level. Even specialists in certain areas can graduate successfully. In Kanisawa's opinion, Shin's Swordsmanship level alone was enough to meet the standard.
Kanisawa was silent for a moment, then said, "I also didn't apply for the graduation exam."
Shin merely responded casually with "Is that so?", his demeanor suggesting complete indifference.
This response also blocked the words Kanisawa had prepared to continue with. She remembered the roster where she had specifically crossed out her own name, then stood up and left.
The top three students in Class A of the Fourth-Year had no plans to graduate early. She wondered what Mr. Minamida would think.
Hearing that Kanisawa seemed to have walked away, Shin slowly closed his eyes.
The dismissal bell rang, concluding the morning classes. Spiritual Arts Academy Fourth-Year students normally had only three classes a day—two in the morning and one in the afternoon—leaving them with a lot of free time.
With graduation approaching and new students starting, outdoor practical classes also decreased.
Students in the outdoor classroom gradually left. Just as Shin was about to get up, he suddenly saw Shiba Kaien, who should have also left, approaching him with a smile.
"Let's go. I'll treat you to a meal."
Spiritual Arts Academy Cafeteria.
"If you're treating me to a meal, why do I have to pay?"
"I forgot to bring money when I left home today."
Shin looked at the Vice-Captain in front of him, feeling quite speechless. The two sat down at a table by the window at the edge, and Shiba Kaien, dressed in his soul reaper uniform, attracted many students' gazes.
"The school food is truly nostalgic."
Shiba Kaien said while devouring his meal.
Shin looked at him and said, "You only stayed here for a year, didn't you?"
Shiba Kaien only spent one year graduating from the Spiritual Arts Academy and joined the Squad Thirteen, and he was even a Third Seat, which caused quite a stir at the time. If Shin was considered a genius by outsiders, then Shiba Kaien was a genius among geniuses, and with his surname "Shiba," Shiba Kaien was surrounded by too many halos.
And Jūshirō Ukitake, the Captain of the Squad Thirteen, was often ill, so Vice Captain Shiba Kaien fully managed the Squad affairs. He was a person who combined strength, ability, and charisma.
His future was limitless.
"Let's not talk about the past. You know why I came to find you, right?" Shiba Kaien said while eating.
"You want me to join your Squad?"
Shiba Kaien's face showed an expression of "You're a smart kid." He said, "I know Ms. Matsumoto must have approached you. Although the Captain of the Tenth Division is my uncle, he's an extremely unreliable person. You'll have no future with him. Come with me instead. When I become Captain, perhaps I can promote you to be my adjutant, you know."
He spoke ill of his own uncle without hesitation, while simultaneously painting a grand picture for Shin.
Adjutant?
Shin smiled faintly, looking at Shiba Kaien. If everything went smoothly, Shiba Kaien would certainly become a Captain.
If everything went smoothly.
"I don't plan to graduate this year, nor next year," Shin said directly.
Shiba Kaien's face finally showed surprise: "Why?"
He valued Tachikawa Shin naturally because of the talent he displayed. In his opinion, Tachikawa Shin had already reached graduation level.
Shin didn't state the specific reason, only saying, "After I graduate later, I can indeed prioritize Squad Thirteen, but I want to do something these two years, and I hope you can help me."
Shiba Kaien's face showed an interested expression: "Tell me."
Shin slowly said, "I want to establish an official organization among the students of the Spiritual Arts Academy. As an ordinary student, I definitely can't do it, but if you, as the Vice-Captain of Squad Thirteen and the next head of Clan Shiba, step forward, it will be much easier."
Shiba Kaien's smile slowly faded. He gazed at Shin.
"You kid, you're from Rukongai, aren't you?"
Shin, however, smiled: "Ah, Zaraki District. Is there a problem?"
Shiba Kaien scoffed lightly, his eyes expressing an unclear meaning: "You have quite the ambition."